Rafter marking apparatus



June 11,1935. Ry L l GREVE 2,004,318

RAFTER MARKING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 25, 1931 Patented June 11, 1935 i I UNITED STATES PATENT NoErlCE I Y e fantasia4 j Y RAFTER MARKING APPARATUS `Rel/bert L. Greve, Pasadena, Calif., assigner of one-half to Norman A. Greve, Wilmer, Calif. ,e Application Angustias, 1931', seria; No. l559,213

4 claims. (C1. 33:-91)

`My invention relates to rafter marking apparatusand it hasr among its salient objects to provide a simple, compact and practical rafter marking device which combines a plurality of marking edges, adjustably interconnected so that the adjustment of one member for marking one cntto` be made automatically moves or adjusts another member for marking another cut in connection with said first cut, said parts or members being so connected that the proportional movements are made without` any ,calculationsV on the part of the user Yof the instrument; to provide an instrumental in" which four different marking members `are provided andV interconnected together for automatic and simultaneous movement for markingtheseveral cuts to be made in cutting common, ghip, jack and valley rafters; to

provide inan instrument of the character referred to a single scale for the guidance of the user in adjusting the instrument for the particular pitch of the roof to be constructed; and to provide an instrument `of the character referred to Which-can be` folded` into small compass.

In order to explain my invention, I have `illustrated-Ione practical embodiment thereof on the accompanying vsheet of drawings, which I will now describe. I

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an instrument embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a front side elevation of said instrument; l

Figure 3 is a back or under side elevation thereof,

Figure 4 is an edge View as seen from the line 4 4, Fig. 3; and

Figure 5 is a cross sectional detail on the line `5,-5 of Fig. 2. Y

Referring in detail to the drawing, my instrument as here embodied for explanatory purposes includes a body plate or member 6, having a right angle iiange 'l along one side thereof, and

having its opposite side cut away to different angles, as a1l 8 and 9, to give clearance for the members movably connected therewith. Pivotally mounted on one side of said body is a, segmental marking member I0, pivoted at Il, and having a curved slot I2 therein, with thumb screw and nut at I3, for holding said marking member in different positions of adjustment. Said body is provided on its face with graduations I4, cooperating with said marking member I0, at I', for determining the position or place for said marking member I0 for different pitches. In said body 6, concentric with the pivot II, is a curved slot I5, through which said marking member is connected by means of a rivet I6, with a link I1, on the back of said body, and again referred to. I

Said marking member is also provided along its straight side with a parallel slot I8, and a strip or reinforcing `portion I9, upon which is slidably mounted an angle member 20, having slots 20 and 2D', at right angles to each other, whereby said angle member can be adjustably` and reversably mounted and held in place on said marking member .IIIl bymeans of screw and nut at 2l. I

On the opposite face of said body plate 6, Fig. 2, is pivotally connected another marking member 22, pivoted at 23, to said body plate, and at its end provided `with a short curved slot 24, with pivot 'pin 25 therein, and extended through a curved slot 26 insaid body plate 6, and connecting with alink 2l, on the back side of said body plate, as, seen in Fig. 3. Said marking member 22 fis also provided with a slidable square or angle member 22', which is similar to the angle member 20, on the member Ill, said angle member 22 being adjustably and reversably held in place by means ofa screw 22a. These `angle members are used .for markingkfor the seat cuts for common and jack` rafters.

, Slidably mounted on the `top side of the lflange l, on said body plate 6, is a slide plate or member 29, having an upturned part 29 to which the links I'I and 21 are connected, as seen in Fig. 3. Said slide member 2 9 is provided with two straight slots, as 29a, 29a, and is slidably held in place by means of rivets 30. On said side member 29 are two upstanding pins or studs, as 3 I and 32, Working in two curved slots 33 and 3G, in two segmental marking `members 35 and 36, pivoted near their pointed ends, as at 3l and 33, to the flangev member 1. This makes it possible to extend the small ends of said members 35 and 36, as at 35' and 35" to give longer marking edges. A cover plate, as 39, may be placed over the operating links Il and 2l, and theupturned part 2B', on Y the body member of plate 6. Said cover plate may be formed by bending the upper portion of plate S upon itself, as at 'I'. This body plate 6 has bent up therefrom at right angles two lips 6', 6', for use in placing the opposite side of the instrument against the timber as may be done to reverse the markings.

Thus I have provided a compact and practical rafter marking instrument which can be used for marking all regular pitched and gable roofs, and the four different marking members I0, 22, 35 and 36, are operatively connected together so that they are simultaneously adjusted as the main marking member iii is moved according to the graduations at i4, Fig. 2. 'I'he marking member i3 is used for marking the cuts for common and jack rafters. The adjustable angle or square member 20 thereon makes it possible to mark the seat cut for said rafters, as those versed in the art will readily understand. The markingv member 2.2 is used for marking the cuts for hip and valley rafters, and the square 22 thereon makes it possible to mark the seat cut for such rafters. The marking member 3S is used for marking the side cut for Ythe jack rafter, and the marking member 35 is used for marking the side cut for the hip and valley rafters. The marking members lil and 2'2 are used for marking the plumb cutsV for the rafters mentioned. The parts are so interconnected that they can be adjusted for the desired markings without special calculations and locked in position by the thumb screw .13, and the instrument can then be turned and applied in different ways to the timber T to be marked for cutting, all as will be readily recognized by "those who are versed in the art.

While I have shown and described in detail one practical embodiment of my invention, I am aware that changes can be made in the details of construction and arrangement without departing from the spirit thereof., and I `do not, therefore, limit the invention to the showing made for descriptive purposes, except as I may be limited by the hereto appended claims.

I claim:

i. A rafter marking apparatus including a body member having a fixed supporting part in a plane at right angles thereto, a plurality of marking members pivotally connected to said body member and said supporting part to move in planes at right angles to each other about different centers, connecting means between said marking members and operable to move them relative to each other and to said body member in different planes, and graduation means for determining different positions oi adjustments of said marking members.

2. A rafter marking apparatus including a'body having a part standing at right angles to said body, two marking members pivotally connected with said body to fold along side thereof in different locations, two other marking members pivotally connected with said part at right angles to said body, and connecting means connecting `all of said marking members for simultaneous movements to different angles of adjustment, and graduation means for indicating the different positions of adjustment `for said marking members.

3. A rafter marking device including-in combination a body having a supporting part at right angles thereto, marking members adjustably connected with said body, marking members adjustably connected with said part at right angles to said body, whereby said marking members on said body and on said part move in planes at right angles to each other, extension members adjustably connected with some of sai-d marking members for extending the markingl edges thereof as desired, and connecting means between said aarking members operable to simultaneously move :said marking members to Various angles of adjustment.

4. An instrumentl ofthe character referred to including a dat body member provided with graduations in circular form thereon, a supportinfy portion at right angles to said body member, a marking memberY pivotally mounted on said body member, and having a part cooperating with said graduations to determineV different positions of adjustment and 4having a marking edge, two marking members pivotally connected at different places with said supporting portion 'and movable thereupon to different positions of adjustment and having each a marking edge,con necting members connecting all of said marking members for simultaneous movement and operating when one of said marking members is moved to move the other marking members to different angles yof adjustment, and means for extending the marking `edges of said marking members to give greater length.

ROBERT L. GREVE. 

